Guzmania plant named &#39;skohicli&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  cultivar named ‘Skohicli’ is disclosed, characterized a compact plant habit, and very large, decorative red bracts.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Guzmania hybrid.

VARIETY DENOMINATION ‘Skohicli’ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, Guzmanialingulata×wittmackii with the pollen parent Guzmania lingulata, directedby the inventors during 1999.

It was discovered by the co-inventors, Chester Skotak Jr., a citizen ofCosta Rica, and Herb Hill, a citizen of the United States in 2002 inAjauela, Costa Rica in a group of seedlings resulting from the 1999crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Skohicli’ was first performedin Costa Rica by tissue culture in April 2003. ‘Skohicli’ has sinceproduced several generations by micro-propagation and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Skohicli’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Skohicli’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Skohicli’ as a new and distinct Guzmaniacultivar:

-   1. Compact plant shape.-   2. Very large inflorescence.-   3. Strong red florescence color.-   4. Suitability as an indoor pot plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Skohicli’ are similar to both parentvarieties in most horticultural characterisitics. However, ‘Skohicli’differs from both the seed and pollen parents in having a more compactplant shape and larger inflorescence.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Skohicli’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Guzmania‘Catherine.’ Plants of ‘Catherine’ are similar to plants of ‘Skohicli’in most horticultural charactertistics, however, ‘Skohicli’ has a widerinflorescence, more compact plant size and shorter, wider leaves than‘Catherine.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Skohicli’ grown in a greenhouse. This plant isapproximately 2 years old, shown in an 11 cm pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Skohicli’ plants grown in a climatecontrolled greenhouse in Evergem, the Netherlands. Temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 28° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodictreatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Guzmania hybrid. cultivar ‘Skohicli.’-   Plant:-   Growth Habit: Upright, flattened sphere, forming compact rosettes    around a single axis. One straight, upright inflorescence arising    from the center of plant.-   Height: Approximately 34.3 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 48.8 cm in a 11 cm pot.-   Normal pot size: 9, 11 cm.-   Growth rate: Slow.-   Branching characteristics: Upright, non-branching.-   Number of leaves per stem: Approximately 26.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, single occurring basal rosettes.        -   Average length.—Approximately 26.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 4.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate.        -   Aspect.—Slightly recurved.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green to yellow-green; in            between RHS 137B and 146A, middle part striped RHS            greyed-orange 177A/B, base lighter yellow green; RHS 146C/D.            Young foliage under side: Yellow-green; near RHS 146A            flushed RHS greyed-purple; 187A, middle sections RHS            greyed-purple; 187A, lighter towards the base; 187B. Mature            foliage upper side: Green to yellow-green; in between RHS            143A and 146A, base light yellow-green; RHS 146D Mature            foliage under side: Yellow-green; RHS 146A, slightly flushed            greyed-purple towards the base; RHS 187A/B.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration:            Identical/Indistinguishable from foliage.-   Petiole: Not present, sessile.-   Inflorescence:-   General description: Simple spike(scape) consisting of many bracts    only. No individual flowers are visible. Spike emerges from the    centre of the rosette. Inflorescence is formed by conspicuous    bracts.    -   -   Inflorescence height.—29.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—19.3 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—22.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Very straight, 90° angle to rosette.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS. White 157 A.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Length.—12.1 cm.        -   Width.—3.5 cm.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathed.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color upperside.—Near RHS Red 42A.        -   Color underside.—Between RHS Red 40A and Red 42A.        -   Coloration scape bracts.—Upperside: Near RHS Orange-Red 35A            Upperside Top: Near RHS Green 137A. Upperside Outermost Tip:            Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Underside: Near RHS Orange-Red            34A Underside Top: Near RHS Red 53A with flush of            Yellow-Green 147A. Underside Outermost Tip: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple 187B.-   Other characteristics:-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature    tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold    temperatures has not been observed.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘Skohicli’ asherein illustrated and described.